Behavior Problems in Dogs and Cats

Behavior Problems

Natural remedies for behavioral problems in cats and dogs to help stop bad habits such as destroying property and anxiety related behavior.

Animals routinely experience anxiety and irregularities in bodily systems, including the Central and Autonomic Nervous systems, requiring a whole body, nutritional correction to bring the animal body into balance, to help restore emotional balance, to help promote relaxation and to reduce nervousness, to help balance mood, soothe anxiety and to provide feelings of comfort and security. According to the 2013/14 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, one out of five dogs has a behavioral issue.

Many dogs and cats experience emotional distress for a variety of reasons, including environmental and situational stressors such as traveling, daycare, boarding, vet and grooming visits, introduction into a new home, loss of a family member or family pet, separation from owners, visiting guests, transitional or traumatic events, abuse, an inappropriate diet (one which contains processed foods including corn, wheat, soy or other fillers) and general anxiety that includes irregular behaviors manifest as urine marking, excessive barking, scratching, digging, barking, trembling or shivering.

If your pet is consistently presenting odd behavior and you have ruled out illness or disease, and if the behavior is negatively impacting daily activities in your home, then determining the underlying cause of the problem is required to correct it.

Destructive behavior can be brought upon by fear, boredom, lack of discipline or may be due to anxiety that the pet feels when the owner is away from the house or anxiety that arises due to something new; a new person or new pet. By giving attention when unacceptable behavior has happened, even if this attention is in the form of punishment, the pattern of behavior is reinforced. If your pet has done something bad, the best action may be to ignore it. Rewarding good behavior and ignoring bad behavior can be effective training tools.

Some pets are more highly strung than others and certainly some breeds are considered more predisposed to problem behavior. Aggression is more common in adult, male pets and more common during the mating season.

Young dogs tend to be more submissive and may develop problem behavior such as inappropriate urination when in the presence of humans and other dogs. Some pets will even develop attention-seeking behavior; this may include lameness, nervous twitching, snapping at imaginary flies or chasing their tail obsessively.

Destructive behavior, such as digging holes, chewing and ruining furniture, clothing and carpets is quite common in sensitive breeds such a Dobermans, Labradors, Dachshunds and Dalmatians. The oriental breeds of cats can also show destructive behavior.

Changing an unacceptable behavior pattern can be a great challenge. Correction of unacceptable behavior in your pet will require a committed approach from you and everyone who interacts with your pet. Resolution of the problem is often easier with the help of a behaviorist who will teach you certain methods to encourage normal behavior and explain the best way to react when you encounter problem behavior.

Herbal remedies can help promote a calm and relaxed state, help soothe stress, fear and nervous anxiety during stressful situations and everyday disturbances, can help address the sudden and immediate symptoms of stress, such as quivering and panting, can help relieve the anxiety and tension related to stress, can help your pet cope with anxiety and nervousness by providing nutritional and natural phyto-chemical support to all body systems to provide systemic whole body balance, allowing your animal to distinguish between a safe vs. fearful situation and to limit destructive behaviors.

Serenity Zen Dog & Cat-(learn more) is used for its multi-level nutritional and plant botanical support to help soothe, relax, calm, balance and provide pain relief to nerves and muscles as well as all bodily systems (Adrenal, Cardiovascular, Digestive, Excretory, Respiratory, Autonomic and Central Nervous Systems); may be useful for stress, anxiety and behavioral disorders, allergies, digestive colic, storms, fireworks, travel, boarding, vet visits, separation, restlessness, irritability, depression, hyper-excitability, aggression, sadness and fear; to help maintain normal electrical balance in the brain, to reduce neuro inflammation, and to modulate inflammatory response throughout the animal body. (See Pet Age magazines feature of Serenity Zen.)

Soothed & Serene –(learn more) is used to relax and calm all bodily systems, to help support all aspects of the central and autonomic nervous systems; to help soothe animals exhibiting all types of destructive behavior due to anxiety, fear, grief, separation, pain, illness, allergies, aggression, socialization issues, electrical and thunder storms due to its calming, mildly sedative and nervine effects that can bridge nutritional deficiencies and relieve irregularity in bodily systems, to help restore emotional balance, promote comfort, relaxation, balanced mood and feelings of security; and as a stroke preventative.

Yelp for Kelp - (learn more) provides critical vitamins, amino and fatty acids and trace macro and micronutrient support for the endocrine system, to energize the body, for building and toning enzymes, tissues, hormones and bones, for enhancing natural cleansing and detoxification, to help nutritionally support a balanced immune system; to help support healthy skin and coat; as an osteoporosis preventative, to promote immunity and for metabolic disorders, including the thyroid gland and other glands and tissues that affect the thyroid, for thyroid disorders, to cleanse the lymphatic system, to maintain healthy levels of TSH, T3 and T4, and for metabolic disorders.

Bionic Body – (learn more) is used holistically for its adaptogenic immune boosting and anti-inflammatory support; as an antioxidant and for its free radical scavenging (disease preventing) actions; for its nutritive content which may help to nourish the body and strengthen and revitalize bones, eye, teeth, skin and coat; works to stimulate collagen production, a primary building material of bones; may help prevent dental disease; for its plant actions to help strengthen bones, cartilage, joints, muscles, connective tissues & blood vessels & helps to reduce joint inflammation, while activating a cartilage-protective biochemical, potentially helping to preserve healthy cartilage in aging joint; for its prebiotic and probiotic content to help support native gut flora and healthy digestion; may help to fight off allergies and infections.

* The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements refer to holistic uses only and are not supported by medical research. The information contained in this plant file is intended for education, entertainment and information purposes only. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose, prescribe or replace proper medical care. The plant described herein is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, mitigate or prevent any disease or condition.
* As indicated by holistic veterinarians.

All products are free of gluten, artificial flavors, colorants and preservatives. In accordance with our ‘Do No Harm’ policy, no animal testing is carried out whatsoever.